A group of 30 individuals representing various NGOs held a peaceful rally outside the Penang State Legislative Assembly today against the proposed Pan-Island Link (PIL) highway.

They carried banners and placards that said "Development not Developers," "Say No to SRS", "No to Highway" and "Penangites Do Not Want PIL Highway" to express their dissatisfaction.

The highway is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan, which was proposed by the state's project delivery partner, SRS Consortium.

Among the protesters were former DAP Tanjung Bungah assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu, Penang Forum representatives Khoo Salma and Lim Mah Hui, as well as Penang Island city councillor Chee Heng Leng.

PSM central committee member Choo Chon Kai and Tanjung Bungah residents' group representative Meena Raman were also present.

"There should be more transparency in the project," said Salma. "Many Penangites are not aware of the transport project by SRS as the proposal was displayed during the Chinese New Year period and it was difficult to access it.

"Why so secretive?" she asked.

Salma also said that the NGOs had met with the new government's Council of Eminent Persons in June and they were very supportive of the need to review the project.

Currently, there is a public display of the project's environmental impact assessment (EIA) at 10 locations across Penang.

It is also learnt that a town hall meeting will be organised by the office of Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin.

The PIL highway, which is the first component of the PTMP, is supposed to improve the island's road network and resolve traffic woes.

It has received flak from several quarters as construction works may affect two popular public parks while explosives may be used for tunnelling works through Penang Hill.

EIA report submitted 

Meanwhile, during the question and answer session at the state assembly, PKR Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Jason Ong Khan Lee asked if a detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) has been done on the PTMP.

In response to his written question, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said there are three components to the PTMP – Bayan Lepas LRT, PIL as well as main roads and tunnel.

"The state government has submitted the EIA report on the components to the Environment Department for approval," Chow said in a written reply.

"The report obtained the approval of the DOE on Nov 7 last year.

"The EIA report for PIL has been submitted to DOE on May 7 this year, and the report is on public display from July 11 to Aug 10.

"For the Bayan Lepas LRT project, the EIA report has been submitted to DOE on May 31 last year, and the state government is awaiting further information and decision about the matter from the DOE," Chow added.